Report: Chiefs sign veteran tight end with blocking upside

The Kansas City Chiefs have added a veteran to their wide open (behind Travis Kelce) tight end room. Kansas City signed John Phillips, as first reported by ESPN’s Field Yates. The move came through on the NFL’s official transaction report.

Phillips, 31, is a 6-foot-5, 251-pound tight end who first entered the league as a sixth-round pick made by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2009 NFL Draft. Phillips spent four years with the Cowboys before signing with the then-San Diego Chargers, where he played for three years.

Phillips bounced around with the Denver Broncos (2016), New Orleans Saints (2016-17) and Arizona Cardinals (2018) before landing with the Chiefs on Monday.

Phillips has played in 120 career games with 43 career starts, compiling 58 receptions for 428 yards and five touchdowns during 10 years in the league. Considered a blocking specialist, Phillips’ best statistical output came back in 2011, when he had 15 catches for 101 yards and a touchdown.

Phillips started just four games for the Cardinals in 2018.

Phillips has gone through several injuries throughout his career, including two ACL tears and multiple trips to the injured reserve list. He stands to compete for the Chiefs’ second and third tight end positions.

For their corresponding roster move, the Chiefs released defensive back Dontae Johnson.

Linebacker Martrell Spaight has retired.

Inside linebacker Martrell Spaight also retired on Monday, leaving one spot open on the Chiefs’ 90-man roster.